Folkcraft Shop Blog
Website Updates & New Features
This has been a great week for getting things accomplished here in the workshop. I almost have a routine down now where I spend part of each day making dulcimer...
Website Updates & New Features
This has been a great week for getting things accomplished here in the workshop. I almost have a routine down now where I spend part of each day making dulcimer...
Making Waves With Your Dulcimer
I get this question all the time: "Do the different holes (in the top of a dulcimer) change the sound of the instrument?" The short answer is "no." There you...
Making Waves With Your Dulcimer
I get this question all the time: "Do the different holes (in the top of a dulcimer) change the sound of the instrument?" The short answer is "no." There you...
Twenty Years Of Dulcimers, Laps, And Smiles
This has been a good week here at the workshop. We're making great progress on nearly every "front." Each day starts with spraying lacquer (before we kick up too much...
Twenty Years Of Dulcimers, Laps, And Smiles
This has been a good week here at the workshop. We're making great progress on nearly every "front." Each day starts with spraying lacquer (before we kick up too much...
From The Guts Of A Waffle Iron
As of this week, we've finally gotten production into full swing here at the new shop! New band saw, new jointer, new CNC router, and the "other" new CNC router....
From The Guts Of A Waffle Iron
As of this week, we've finally gotten production into full swing here at the new shop! New band saw, new jointer, new CNC router, and the "other" new CNC router....
Folkcraft Artists Blow-up YouTube
I'm back from my short-lived career as a sawdust artist. Evidently crudely drawn stick figures weren't close enough to "fine art" to be commercially viable. I guess I'll settle for...
Folkcraft Artists Blow-up YouTube
I'm back from my short-lived career as a sawdust artist. Evidently crudely drawn stick figures weren't close enough to "fine art" to be commercially viable. I guess I'll settle for...
Sawdust Artist Daydreams
Growing up in the 1970s, I recall Mom and Dad taking me to a lot of craft shows. There were a lot of cool things to see there. Dad enjoyed...
Sawdust Artist Daydreams
Growing up in the 1970s, I recall Mom and Dad taking me to a lot of craft shows. There were a lot of cool things to see there. Dad enjoyed...
It's Time To Start Thinking About Christmas (Mu...
August is coming to a close, soon, which means it's time to start thinking about Christmas music. I did a quick search at Folkcraft.com for the word "Christmas," and found...
It's Time To Start Thinking About Christmas (Mu...
August is coming to a close, soon, which means it's time to start thinking about Christmas music. I did a quick search at Folkcraft.com for the word "Christmas," and found...
Hold On To Your Herdims!
I have some sad news for you. The company that makes our beloved Herdim dulcimer picks? They declared bankruptcy a couple of months ago. The picks (pictured below) have been...
Hold On To Your Herdims!
I have some sad news for you. The company that makes our beloved Herdim dulcimer picks? They declared bankruptcy a couple of months ago. The picks (pictured below) have been...
A Whole Lot Of Hot Air
Another one of the joys of setting up our new shop (I mentioned electricity last week) was air. Compressed air, specifically. We use compressed air all over the building. Compressed...
A Whole Lot Of Hot Air
Another one of the joys of setting up our new shop (I mentioned electricity last week) was air. Compressed air, specifically. We use compressed air all over the building. Compressed...
Living & Loving Life In The Woods
I've spent this week finishing off getting the last of the shop tools hooked up and running. I'm being very, very careful about electric usage. Our total service gives us...
Living & Loving Life In The Woods
I've spent this week finishing off getting the last of the shop tools hooked up and running. I'm being very, very careful about electric usage. Our total service gives us...
Pam Is On The Case
Since we moved the workshop from Indiana to Michigan our long-time employee, Pam, has been working from her home. Evidently, Michigan's Upper Peninsula has too much snow for her liking....
Pam Is On The Case
Since we moved the workshop from Indiana to Michigan our long-time employee, Pam, has been working from her home. Evidently, Michigan's Upper Peninsula has too much snow for her liking....
How To Disinfect Your Dulcimer, Continued
I ended up getting quite a few responses to last week's newsletter and I'm going to share a couple of them with you here: "Reading your article about the person...
How To Disinfect Your Dulcimer, Continued
I ended up getting quite a few responses to last week's newsletter and I'm going to share a couple of them with you here: "Reading your article about the person...
How To Disinfect Your Dulcimer
A couple of weeks ago, one of our dulcimer players wrote and asked about playing her mountain dulcimer (a MaxDAD!) in health care environments. Some of her audience members liked...
How To Disinfect Your Dulcimer
A couple of weeks ago, one of our dulcimer players wrote and asked about playing her mountain dulcimer (a MaxDAD!) in health care environments. Some of her audience members liked...
The Purpose Of The Groove
I got an email this morning with a question about our dulcimers. So to answer that question, we're going to be talking about nuts, and bridges, today. If you have...
The Purpose Of The Groove
I got an email this morning with a question about our dulcimers. So to answer that question, we're going to be talking about nuts, and bridges, today. If you have...
Bigfoot, Bluegrass & Boogie Fests Too
So this week I corresponded with a number of local dulcimer players (within a couple hours' drive time) and they've been filling me in on nearby music festivals. We can...
Bigfoot, Bluegrass & Boogie Fests Too
So this week I corresponded with a number of local dulcimer players (within a couple hours' drive time) and they've been filling me in on nearby music festivals. We can...
Cherries, Appels, And All The Strings
A couple of weeks ago I asked for some input on a potential new head design. Here's a reminder photo: Some Strong Feedback I often ask for your opinions, and...
Cherries, Appels, And All The Strings
A couple of weeks ago I asked for some input on a potential new head design. Here's a reminder photo: Some Strong Feedback I often ask for your opinions, and...
Dulcimer Sound Holes Extravaganza
Here's a gentle reminder for each and every one of you: "Playing your dulcimer is better for your health, both physical and mental, than scrolling on your phone."So once you've...
Dulcimer Sound Holes Extravaganza
Here's a gentle reminder for each and every one of you: "Playing your dulcimer is better for your health, both physical and mental, than scrolling on your phone."So once you've...
Setting Up Shop
Dad and I spent the week setting up the new workshop. He worked on clamp storage (bar clamps, spring clamps, C-clamps, and all the various specialty clamps). Here's the wall...
Setting Up Shop
Dad and I spent the week setting up the new workshop. He worked on clamp storage (bar clamps, spring clamps, C-clamps, and all the various specialty clamps). Here's the wall...
Getting Back To Dulcimer Building
I'm getting into the groove of making dulcimers in the new shop. It seems like there's an awful lot of "I need Tool X to finish this job - where...
Getting Back To Dulcimer Building
I'm getting into the groove of making dulcimers in the new shop. It seems like there's an awful lot of "I need Tool X to finish this job - where...
Ten-Hour Trips Are Finally In The Rearview Mirror
I'm baaaaaccck. Yes, for real. The Richard Ash who's finally finished moving the Folkcraft workshop from Indiana to Michigan. You might be thinking "Indiana and Michigan share a border, it...
Ten-Hour Trips Are Finally In The Rearview Mirror
I'm baaaaaccck. Yes, for real. The Richard Ash who's finally finished moving the Folkcraft workshop from Indiana to Michigan. You might be thinking "Indiana and Michigan share a border, it...
One More Trip Across The Bridge
Good news about the shop move to Michigan: Richard emailed me a few days ago that they'd be making the final trip across the bridge this week. And plan to...
One More Trip Across The Bridge
Good news about the shop move to Michigan: Richard emailed me a few days ago that they'd be making the final trip across the bridge this week. And plan to...
What's The Best-Sounding Dulcimer?
Today we're featuring an "In The Shop" from late summer 2023. Richard attempts to answer an inevitable question: What's the best sounding dulcimer?" (In my humble opinion, the answer is...
What's The Best-Sounding Dulcimer?
Today we're featuring an "In The Shop" from late summer 2023. Richard attempts to answer an inevitable question: What's the best sounding dulcimer?" (In my humble opinion, the answer is...
Here's The Scoop!
Today we're featuring an "In The Shop" from the spring of 2023. Its focus is on one of the more unique customizations Richard's been ask to do. Until next week,...
Here's The Scoop!
Today we're featuring an "In The Shop" from the spring of 2023. Its focus is on one of the more unique customizations Richard's been ask to do. Until next week,...
Rosewood Raises A Ruckus
Today we're re-featuring an "In The Shop" from the last week of 2023. Richard talked with us about the pros and cons of East Indian rosewood. Pain in the tuchus...
Rosewood Raises A Ruckus
Today we're re-featuring an "In The Shop" from the last week of 2023. Richard talked with us about the pros and cons of East Indian rosewood. Pain in the tuchus...